Yu Darvish became the eighth member of the Texas Rangers to be included in this year’s Mid-Summer Classic.

The Texas Rangers succumbed to their first sweep of the season as they fell to the Chicago White Sox, 2-1 today.

It had been over a year since an opponent had busted out the brooms on the Rangers. The Windy City White Sox hadn’t swept Texas since 2001.

After combining for 21 runs during the initial game, the two teams combined for just 12 over the final two. With the White Sox outscoring the Rangers during those two contests 7-5.

Losing the opening game of a three game series by 17 runs probably didn’t set the best precedent. Much like Scott Feldman probably wasn’t Ranger Nation’s first choice to right the game one wrong.

The Rangers’ skid has now hit four games—a tie for the longest losing streak of the season. If ever there was a time to feel good about coming home, it’s now. Starting tomorrow—in the friendly confines of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington—Texas exchanges the A.L. Central’s top team (White Sox) for the Central’s bottom-dwellers (Twins).

Bring ‘em on.

Thoughts from the White Sox series:

You killed us, Youk

• As the Rangers’ new color commentator, Matt Hicks, astutely noted during today’s 2-1 loss: “Kevin Youkilis has only played three home games in Chicago, and the fans are ready to give him the keys to the city.”

Well, that’s what happens when you play like Youkilis did during that three game set at U.S. Cellular Field. Youk hit .462 with 2 HRs, 6 RBI and posted a .923 slugging percentage…over his career, the certifiable “Rangers killer” is batting .328 with 7 HRs, and 35 RBI.

Jose Quintana and Chris Sale

• 23-year-old left-handers appear to have the Texas Rangers’ number. Chris Sale and Jose Quintana combined for 15 1/3 innings of seven-hit baseball, with 12 punchouts and just two walks. The young southpaws surrendered two earned runs between them and only two free passes.

• Quintana, who lacks Sale’s plus-fastball, was particularly nasty against the Rangers. He used excellent command and nasty off-speed offerings to produce plenty of swings-and-misses. The young Colombian struck out 8 over his 8 innings of work.

Mike Napoli’s continued struggles

• Batting well against left-handed pitching was Napoli’s calling card prior to this season—his splits against lefties over his career (.276/.386/.534) is still solid, but Naps has struggled against southpaws so far in 2012: .160/.274/.321.

During his breakthrough 2011 campaign, Napoli was a left-hander’s worst nightmare, as he went: .319/.430/.619.

After getting banged-up by a home plate collision with the White Sox’s A.J. Pierzynski yesterday, it wasn’t a surprise that Washington elected to sit Napoli in favor of Brandon Snyder today.

Snyder, coming into today’s game, had hit left-handers extremely well: .364/..402/.667. Perhaps as a testament to just how outstanding Quintana was today, Snyder went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

The 83rd Annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Kansas City’s Kaufman Stadium next Tuesday.

Up Next:

The Texas Rangers will host the Minnesota Twins for the final home stand before the All-Star Break.

Minnesota is currently in last place of the A.L. Central, 10 games behind the front-running Chicago White Sox. During their last matchup, the Rangers swept the Twins 3-0 in Minnesota’s Target Field.

LHP Martin Perez (1-0, 9.00 ERA) is set to make the second major league start of his career. Perez will oppose Minnesota’s LHP Francisco Liriano (2-7, 5.40 ERA). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 (CT).